GOALKEEPER Ben Garratt has signed a new contract at Burton Albion, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2021.
The 25-year-old initially signed a short-term deal at the club, arriving at the Pirelli Stadium in October, and has made one first-team appearance in that time.
Now Garratt has signed a new contract for the remainder of this season and the entirety of next.
“I’m delighted - I joined initially on a short-term deal and the first aim was to get that extended,” said Garratt.
“I’ve got another 18 months to look forward to, to knuckle down in and see what happens.
“I’ve loved everything about the place. Since the first day I came in the gaffer and the staff, and all the players, have been brilliant with me. I’ve been impressed with everything really.
“Martin has been brilliant with me. I’ve really enjoyed working with him and with his experience it can only help me.”
Garratt’s appearance came in the Leasing.com Trophy against Mansfield Town, with Kieran O’Hara already having established himself as the number one in the two months before Garratt’s arrival.
But the former Crewe Alexandra man is keen to keep pushing O’Hara throughout the remainder of the campaign.
“I knew the situation when I came in, and I totally accept that,” Garratt said.
“But I’m not just going to sit back and be happy just to sit on the bench.
“I’ll always push myself and hopefully push Kieran (O’Hara) to perform well, as he has been doing.”
Manager Nigel Clough said: “We’ve been impressed with Ben since he came in. It means we’ve got three very good goalkeepers on the books already for next season in Ben, Callum (Hawkins) and Teddy Sharman-Lowe, who is coming through.
“If we bring one in, we bring one in but there’s a chance of Ben Garratt being number one next season. It gives us that comfort for this season, never mind next season - and he’s been a very good understudy to Kieran.
“We’ve played him in the Birmingham Senior Cup to keep him ticking over and as soon as it went to penalties we were confident with him in goal. He’ll play in the next round as well.
“You can tell from a goalkeeper in training that he’s good and experienced. That League One experience is absolutely vital and he’s committed for the next 18 months or so.”